Toyota USA Foundation to help expand manufacturing opportunities

U.S., May 17 -- Toyota USA Foundation has issued two grants, with a combined worth of $2.35 million, to Project Lead The Way (PLTW) and the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE) with a view to expand opportunities in the manufacturing sector.
The grants were announced at the North American Advanced Manufacturing Career Pathways Conference, and they aim to increase access to STEM programs throughout the US while boosting participation and retention of women and people of colour in STEM roles.
Mike Goss, President, Toyota USA Foundation, said: "Persistent workforce gaps in STEM fields can be solved by increased participation and inclusion of diverse students. These investments will impact elementary, middle, high school, and community colleges across the country, and represent industry and education coming together to better prepare the nation's youth."
PLTW was awarded $2 million to support around 115 K-12 schools throughout America, and that money will help with the implementation of various programmes across schools and colleges for every age group.
CEO of PLTW, Dr. Vince Bertram, said: "Toyota and the Toyota USA Foundation have been tremendous partners for many years, helping us engage and inspire students in their K-12 education and future careers. Through the foundation's continued support, we will train hundreds of teachers and engage thousands of students in PLTW's hands-on, transformative learning experiences. These programs help prepare students with the knowledge and skills to compete in the workforce, solve challenges, contribute to global progress, and create a lasting impact on their communities and our country."
NAPE received $350,000 to create promotional tools and outreach strategies for educators to use with students and parents at the K-12 and community college level. The organisation will also partner with PLTW to increase participation of women and people of colour.
"This award provides a unique opportunity for NAPE to equip educators with the student-focused tools they need to increase student awareness, interest, and choice to enter into advanced manufacturing STEM careers," said Mimi Lufkin, CEO of NAPE. "With such a wide scope, this grant can positively impact thousands of women and people of color."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Manufacturing Digital.